High-end Chinese shoppers help boost visitor numbers at Kildare Village to almost 4 million this year

Revenues at Kildare Village are set to soar by up to 28% this year, with the boutique retail village expecting to see a massive rise in visitors number compared to last year.

That is mainly due to the expansion at the well-known village last year, with more than €50 million being pumped into the development at the back end of 2015 helping to increase the number of visitors to the area.

The Irish Independent report that the Kildare Village buisness director, Andrew Marshall, says the number of visitors has now reached almost four million a year, which is an increase of 30%. Like for like sales have also grown by 8% on last year, with visitors coming from the likes of China helping to boost the number of high-end shoppers.

There are currently 90 stores at the luxury retail village, and with 90% of the space to be occupied by the end of this year, there is every chance that further expansion projects may be in the pipeline.

"Ireland is very much on the radar," Marshall is quoted in the Irish Independent. "There is a renewed interest from Chinese people in the market, largely because Ireland is seen as a safe place."

Value Retail Dublin, the real estate firm of Kildare Village, have also entered an agreement to buy an option to purchase a plot of land beside the retail village.